The UC Berkeley class ESPM 107/IB 158, also known as Biology and Geomorphology of Tropical Islands, was conducted in Moorea, French Polynesia, in late 2008. Students in the class performed field-based investigations across a wide range of ecological and biological topics, including marine community metabolism, the impact of invasive species on native flora, and the behavior of island fauna like hermit crabs and spiders. Research also addressed human-driven environmental changes, such as the effects of agricultural runoff on planktonic shrimp and the influence of ecotourism on pink whipray populations. The academic structure of the class involved students developing hypotheses, gathering data through transects, quadrats, or lab experiments, and conducting statistical analyses to test their findings. These projects were supported by UC Berkeley faculty and staff at the Richard B. Gump South Pacific Research Station.